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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13370

14 March 2024
Contents Publication in full By article 1 / 43
Russian invasion of Ukraine / Ukraine
Member States agree on Ukraine component of ‘European Peace Facility’
Brussels, 13/03/2024 (Agence Europe)

On Wednesday 13 March, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union announced that the EU27 had reached agreement on the ‘Ukraine Assistance Fund’.

“EU ambassadors have agreed in principle on a reform of the ‘European Peace Facility’ (EPF) to support Ukraine with a budget of €5 billion for 2024”, the Presidency announced on X (formerly Twitter). The decision is expected to be endorsed by the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday 18 March.

“The EU remains...

Contents

Russian invasion of Ukraine
UKRAINE: Member States agree on Ukraine component of ‘European Peace Facility’
SECURITY - DEFENCE
DEFENCE: European Council to call for strengthening European defence technological and industrial base
EXTERNAL ACTION
MIDDLE EAST: European Council should call for “an immediate humanitarian pause” in Gaza
GREAT LAKES: European Commission releases €70 million for humanitarian projects
HAITI: European Commission releases €20 million in emergency humanitarian aid
TRADE: Generalised Scheme of Preferences, Belgian Presidency of Council hopes for an agreement with the European Parliament on Thursday 14 March
INSTITUTIONAL
DEMOCRACY: interinstitutional agreement on EU Ethics Body suspended pending EU Council decision
FUTURE OF EU: Member States to be asked their opinion on reform of EU’s common policies
SECTORAL POLICIES
TRANSPORT: European Parliament/EU Council agreement on exchange of road traffic offence information
AGRICULTURE: European Commission proposes to relax certain rules in favour of farmers
CLIMATE: Belgian Presidency of EU Council asks Environment Ministers about 2040 climate target
MIGRATION: Member States approve their mandate on mechanism for suspending visa-free regimes for short stays
ENERGY: existing commitments could reduce methane emissions by 50% by 2030, according to International Energy Agency
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
TRADE: European Parliament approves suspension of tariffs on imports from Ukraine and Moldova until June 2025
AGRICULTURE/TRADE: European Parliament again calls for an EU embargo on Russian agricultural products
JUSTICE: European Parliament mobilised to ensure safe return of Ukrainian children deported to Russia
FUTURE OF EU: Petteri Orpo calls for European strategy to prepare for hybrid crises
ARMENIA: European Parliament supports closer ties between Yerevan and EU
MEDIA: MEPs endorse political agreement with EU Council on Media Freedom Act
COMPANIES: due diligence, right and extreme right in European Parliament speak out in turn against directive
CIRCULAR ECONOMY: reduction of food and textile waste – MEPs adopt position ahead of negotiations with EU Council on Waste Directive
PATENTS: European Parliament adopts Adrián Vázquez Lázara’s report on compulsory licences
INTERNAL MARKET: European Parliament adopts its position on Directive creating a European statute for associations
CUSTOMS: European Parliament supports strengthening role of customs authorities
TRANSPORT: European Parliament validates agreement with EU Council on revised rules for occasional passenger transport sector
CONSUMERS: European Parliament overwhelmingly approves report on toy safety in EU
CONSUMERS: European Parliament extends alternative dispute resolution to air passenger rights
DIGITAL: European Parliament welcomes progress represented by agreement on legislation on artificial intelligence
MIGRATION: European Parliament approves new rules on work and residence permit in EU
HOME AFFAIRS: MEPs approve new rules on freezing and confiscating assets of criminal organisations
INDUSTRY: ‘Euro 7’, European Parliament validates interinstitutional agreement
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
COMPANIES: European Parliament and EU Council agree on expanding use of digital tools and processes in EU company law
ECB: new operational framework, ECB to continue to provide liquidity but wants to encourage banks to seek market-based funding solutions
TAXATION: capital gains tax rates vary widely from one country to another in Europe, according to Tax Foundation
BREACHES OF EU LAW
ENVIRONMENT: European Commission refers Ireland, Cyprus, Greece and Italy to Court of Justice of EU for breaches of environmental law
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
WOMEN’S RIGHTS: European Economic and Social Committee delegation presents 10 action points for gender equality
NEWS BRIEFS
CLIMATE: around thirty organisations call on European Commission to present its water management initiative
ENERGY: ACER improves methodology for identifying regional crisis scenarios in electricity sector
ENERGY: 150 citizens to discuss energy efficiency in second round of debates organised by European Commission
ENVIRONMENT: review of Environment Action Programme, Green Deal objectives are still achievable if actions defined are “fully” implemented
INTERNAL MARKET/TRADE: EU Council approves provisional agreement on regulation banning products made using forced labour
NATO: Klaus Iohannis announces bid for position of Secretary-General
RUSSIA: Parliament will not observe presidential election